you'll see that showing up in campaign stump speeches. endorsing in ways he hasn't before and as explicitly paul ryan's idea for medicare retireees ten years from now. this is what the romney's team believes and can use against him and downstream and preparation for the second debate. that's the long game, the nuance to answer, the nuance spin for what they know internally was not a great night for the president and to make it better they have a lot of work ahead of them. >> do you think, major, that the president was surprised coming out of the block by romney's performance and therefore was simply taken aback and never got back on stride? >> reporter: as bill said incumbents often have problems in their first debate. it is not unusual for presidents to be somewhat taken aback by someone standing across from them telling them they are wrong. that's not a typical experience for presidents in the oval office. the president was taken aback and when your challenge certificate funnier than you on the 20th anniversary of your wedding you know